Site PCT07: County Park at Great Creek

Description

County Park introduces visitors to large areas of rolling open fields and patches of woods in various stages of growth. The numerous tree lines support northern mockingbirds, which constantly harass the resident American kestrel and the occasional red-tailed hawk. At times, family groups of northern flickers, with their bright flight feathers and white rumps, pass through the area exploring all the trees for potential prey, and making quite a racket as they call back and forth to each other. The park is equipped with a boat landing that allows people to explore the large reservoir for waterbirds such as, great blue herons and wood ducks. Less frequent birds drop in from time to time such as double-crested cormorants and a wide variety of waterfowl, especially during the winter months.
The swampy wetlands next to the boat landing buzz with the wings of dragonflies. This makes a great opportunity to see the difference between similar species such as, male common whitetails and widow skimmers or big male eastern pondhawks with the small blue dashers. Even the tiny eastern amberwing can be found skimming across the surface of the water. Along the shore, the damp soil attracts clouds of butterflies including the bizarre-looking American snout and the fantastically bold eastern tiger swallowtail.

Directions

From Southside Virginia Community College, return east on Campus Drive for 0.2 miles to SR 46/Christanna Highway. Turn right (south) for 4.9 miles to Park Street. Turn right (southwest) for 0.8 miles to the County Park at Great Creek.